Greene Ferne Farm · Theme
Labour and Class Struggle
How Greene Ferne Farm develops Labour and Class Struggle.
The narrative directly addresses the conflict between capital and labour, exemplified by the haymakers' strike, the backbreaking toil of gleaners, and the stubborn pride of agricultural workers, highlighting the economic pressures and injustices faced by the rural poor.
Where it surfaces
- III: The Nether Millstone
The mill's grinding of corn and the threshing-floor workers reflect the relentless toil of the lower classes, while Andrew's brutal dominance over them highlights class oppression.
- IV: The Wooden Bottle
The haymakers' strike and its resolution highlight class tensions and the power dynamics between landowners and labourers.
- IX: Gleaning
The gleaners are depicted as worn, faceless women whose hearts are 'pinched with poverty,' contrasting with Andrew Fisher's idle wealth.
- X: A Fray
The two laborers, 'odd-me-dods' and 'gawnies,' are called upon to assist the wounded gentleman, highlighting the class divide and the reliance on rural workers.